| SOCIOLOGY | |||||
| Bachelor | TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 | QF-EHEA: First Cycle | EQF-LLL: Level 6 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theoretical | Practical | Credit | ECTS |
| SOC3093 | Sociology of Mass Communication | Spring | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester. |
| Language of instruction: | English |
| Type of course: | Non-Departmental Elective |
| Course Level: | Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle) |
| Mode of Delivery: | Face to face |
| Course Coordinator : | Prof. Dr. AYŞE NİLÜFER NARLI |
| Recommended Optional Program Components: | "." |
| Course Objectives: | -To introduce mass media theory - To acquire an understanding of media theory and research -To develop a critical understanding for the relationship between media and society -To raise an awareness of political and economic forces shaping media -To deconstruct, analyze and evaluate media messages -To master and apply media literacy skills |
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The students who have succeeded in this course; Students will be able to, 1) Synthesize a range of theoretical perspectives to examine contemporary issues in mass media 2) Critically analyze media messages 3) Develop an understanding for the active role of media in social formations 4) Evaluate relationships between media industries and society in terms of political economy perspective 5) Examine the dynamics of developing media technologies |
| This course by focusing on the impact of mass communication, aims to provide students with a framework for understanding the complex relationship between media and society. The main objectives of the course are to provide students with a critical understanding of the media as a key social institution, to develop awareness of political and economic forces shaping media, to develop critical skills to deconstruct media messages and to develop media literacy skills. This course introduces critical theories of mass media and requires a critical understanding to discuss and evaluate media messages and also the ability to synthesize a range of theoretical perspectives to examine contemporary issues in mass media with a reflective understanding. |
| Week | Subject | Related Preparation |
| 1) | Introduction to the course Concepts & Models | “The Mass Communication Process” in McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2010) pp. 51-78. |
| 2) | Media – Society Theories: Overview | Theory of Media & Theory of Society in McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2010) pp. 79-110. “Mass Communication, Popular Taste and Organized Social Action” Paul F. Lazarsfeld & Robert K. Merton, in Media Studies (Eds.) Marris & Thornham, (2000). |
| 3) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 1: Cultural Implications of Mechanical Reproduction | Walter Benjamin’s “Work of Art” Essay Chp 1, Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 17-38. Summary & Response Essay 1: “Moral Solidarity & Technological Reproduction of Images” K, Tester. Media Culture & Society Journal, (1995) |
| 4) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 2: Culture Industries | Theodor Adorno and The Culture Industry Chp 3, Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 62-84. “Culture Industry Reconsidered” Theodor W. Adorno, in Media Studies (Eds.) Marris & Thornham, (2000), pp. 31-37. Summary Response Essay 2: “Cultural Industries In the Digital Age: Some Provisional Conclusions” E. Bustamante, Media Culture & Society Journal (2004) |
| 5) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 3: Mass Communication & Culture | Mass Communication & Culture Chp. 5, McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2000) pp. 111-134. Debate 1: “Mass Communication & Minority Culture” Raymond Williams, in Media Studies (Eds.) Marris & Thornham, (2000), pp. 44-50. “A Semiotic Analysis of Four Designer Clothing Advertisements” Stone (2000) “Social Anxiety, Class and Disaffedted Youth” in Media Culture, Kellner (1995) |
| 6) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 4: Media & Technology | Marshall McLuhan’s Understanding of the Media Chp 4, Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 85-106. “The Medium is the Message” Marshall McLuhan, in Media Studies, Marris & Thornham (2000), pp. 38-43. Debate 2: “Podcasting & Political Life” MacDougall American Behavioral Scientist, (2011) “Requiem for the Media” from A Critique of Political Economy Of Sign” (Baudrillard) |
| 7) | Debates (Homework submission) & Midterm | Debate Group 1 & 2 Midterm |
| 8) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 5: Communication as Ideology | Communication as Ideology Chp. 8, Media & Communication, Scannell (2007), pp. 198-232. “Encoding / Decoding” Stuart Hall, in Media Studies, Marris & Thornham (2000), pp. 51-61. Debate 3: “Myth Today” from Mythologies (Barthes) “Media Culture, politics and ideology from Reagan to Rambo” in Media Culture, Kellner (1995) |
| 9) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 6: Mass Media & Public Sphere | Normative Theory of Media & Society Chp. 7, McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2000) pp. 161-188. “The Public Sphere” J. Habermas, in Media Studies, Marris & Thornham (2000), pp. 92-98. Summary Response Essay 3: “The Virtual Sphere” Papacharissi, New Media & Society, (2002) |
| 10) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 7: Media & Consumerism | Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle Chp 5, Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 107-127. Debate 4: “Towards a Genealogy and Typology of Spectacle : Some Comments on Debord” Roberts, Thesis Eleven, (2003). “Debord and the Postmodern Turn: New Stages of the Spectacle” (Best & Kellner) Chp 7 “Banality TV: the democratization of celebrity” in Critical Theories of Mass Media, Taylor & Harris (2008) pp. 155-176. |
| 11) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 8: New Media | New Media – New Theory? Chp. 6, McQuail’s Communication Theory, McQuail (2000) pp. 135-160. Debate 5: “Boundaries and Borderlines: Reflections on Baudrillard and Critical Theory” “Mapping the present from the future: From Baudrillard to cyberpunk” Chp. 9, Media Culture, Kellner (1995) pp. 297-330. |
| 12) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 9: Social Media | “The Masses: The Implosion of the Social Media” Jean Baudrillard, in Media Studies, Marris & Thornham (2000), pp. 99-108. Debate 6: “Media and the Arab uprisings of 2011: Research notes” Cottle, Journalism, (2011). “Video Justice : Crimes of Violence in Social/Media Space” Biressi & Nunn, Space & Culture, (2003). “Twitter: Microphone for the Masses” Murthy, Media, Culture & Society, (2011). |
| 13) | Critical Theories of Mass Media 10: Media & Social Control | Debate 7 : Discuss a case(s) examplifying different ways of social control through media “Media Gatekeeping” pp 75-89 “The Agenda-Setting Role of News Media” pp 90-105 “Spiral of Silence: Communication and Public Opinion as Social Control” pp. 153-168 in An Integrated Approach to Communication Theory and Research. (Eds) Stacks & Salwen, (2009). |
| 14) | Debates (Homework submission) / Presentation | Debate Groups 5,6 & 7 |
| Course Notes / Textbooks: | Dersin hocası tarafından temin edilecektir. Will be provided by the professor |
| References: | Dennis, McQuail. (2010). McQuail’s Communication Theory. London: Sage Publication. Kellner, Douglas. (1995). Media Culture. London: Routledge. Marris, Paul & Thornham, Sue. (2000). Media Studies (Eds.). NY: New York Univ. Press. Kellner, Douglas. (1995). Media Culture. NY: Routledge. Stacks W. Don & Salwen, Michael Brian. (2009). An Integrated Approach to Communication Theory and Research. (Eds). NY: Taylor & Francis. Taylor, Paul & Harris, Jean Ll. (2008). Critical Theories of Mass Media. Berkshire: Open University Press. Media Culture & Society Journal, Thesis Eleven |
| Semester Requirements | Number of Activities | Level of Contribution |
| Attendance | 14 | % 10 |
| Homework Assignments | 2 | % 20 |
| Presentation | 1 | % 10 |
| Midterms | 1 | % 20 |
| Final | 1 | % 40 |
| Total | % 100 | |
| PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK | % 60 | |
| PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK | % 40 | |
| Total | % 100 | |
| Activities | Number of Activities | Duration (Hours) | Workload |
| Course Hours | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Study Hours Out of Class | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Presentations / Seminar | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Homework Assignments | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| Midterms | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Workload | 118 | ||
| No Effect | 1 Lowest | 2 Low | 3 Average | 4 High | 5 Highest |
| Program Outcomes | Level of Contribution | |
| 1) | To learn and compare major sociology perspectives, both classical and contemporary, and apply all of them to analysis of social conditions. | 1 |
| 2) | To be able to identify the basic methodological approaches in building sociological and anthropological knowledge at local and global levels | 1 |
| 3) | To be able to use theoretical and applied knowledge acquired in the fields of statistics in social sciences. | 1 |
| 4) | To have a basic knowledge of other disciplines (including psychology, history, political science, communication studies and literature) that can contribute to sociology and to be able to make use of this knowledge in analyzing sociological processes | 1 |
| 5) | To have a knowledge and practice of scientific and ethical principles in collecting, interpreting and publishing sociological data also develop ability how to share this data with experts and lay people, using effective communication skills | 1 |
| 6) | To develop competence in analyzing and publishing sociological knowledge by using computer software for quantitative and qualitative analysis; and develop an attitute for learning new techniques in these fields. | 1 |
| 7) | To identify and to have a knowledge of the theories related to urban and rural sociology and demography; and political sociology, sociology of gender, sociology of body, visual sociology, sociology of work, sociology of religion, sociology of knowledge and sociology of crime. | 1 |
| 8) | To have knowledge of how sociology is positioned as a scientific discipline from a philosophical and historical perspective | 1 |
| 9) | To have the awareness of social issues in Turkish society, to develop critical perspective in analysing these issues and to have a knowledge of the works of Turkish sociologists and to be able to transfer this knowledge | 1 |
| 10) | To have the awareness of social issues and global societal processes and to apply sociological analysis to development and social responsibility projects | 1 |
| 11) | To have the ability to define a research question, design a research project and complete a written report for various fields of sociology, either as an individual or as a team member. | 1 |
| 12) | To be able to transfer the knowledge gained in the areas of sociology to the level of secondary school. | 1 |